New Jersey should keep its promise and protect our 9/11 heroes who are now victims of toxic dust from the World Trade Center.
Nearly 23 years ago, emergency responders from across New Jersey, including myself, rushed to help with search, rescue, and recovery efforts in devastated New York City following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Amid an estimated 1.2 million tons of debris, soot and toxic ash, 749 New Jersey residents lost their lives and many of the Garden State’s rescue workers were exposed to toxic conditions.
Are we forgetting New Jersey’s 9/11 victims?
We were promised that no one would forget us, but allowing A4882, the Rich Act of 2019, to expire without fulfilling its intended purpose speaks louder than words for those of us who have been working on the front lines to keep the public safe.
In 2001-2002, my fellow emergency medical technicians believed assurances from the head of the federal Environmental Protection Agency and former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman that the air in lower Manhattan was “safe to breathe.” Unfortunately, the air was highly toxic.
Currently, approximately 132,530 people, including rescue workers and civilians, are enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program and suffer from one or more of the 69 recognized 9/11-related cancers, as well as other serious health conditions such as asthma and COPD.
A new study from Stony Brook University, funded by the CDC and the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health, highlights another medical aftereffect of the 9/11 attacks: early-onset dementia.
Among a cohort of just under 16,000 people evaluated, epidemiologists identified 228 cases of dementia among 9/11 first responders under age 65. Scientists now know that rescuers exposed to high levels of dust and debris at Ground Zero were nine times more likely to develop early-onset dementia.
New York State can help emergency responders on 9/11, will New Jersey help?
While New York state officials have consistently supported 9/11 first responders by repeatedly extending deadlines for applying for pension benefits, New Jersey’s response has unfortunately been marred by bureaucracy.
The original Rich Act was intended to provide post-retirement disability protection to qualified emergency medical personnel, but limited enrollment periods and administrative hurdles made it a de facto state secret. This law was a gross injustice to those who risked their lives and health following the 9/11 attacks on our nation.
Now is the time for Trenton’s leaders to address the issue head on and right this injustice to the emergency medical service community.
State Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez, along with State Senate President Nicholas Scutari, introduced a bill (A4004/S3307) that would expand Chapter 157 of the Bill Ritchie Act to provide accidental disability retirement benefits to New Jersey public employees who participated in the salvage, recovery, and cleanup efforts at the World Trade Center.
I was one of my fellow emergency medical technicians deployed to New York City when the terrorists struck. It’s called mutual aid, and thousands of New Jersey emergency medical technicians answered the call and worked tirelessly during our nation’s darkest hour. Many are now seriously ill and have died from illnesses scientifically linked to the toxins at the WTC.
9/11 Bill: New Jersey lawmakers move to ensure access to medical care for 9/11 and Ground Zero survivors
“Never Forget?” New Jersey must prove it’s still true
Every September we hear the motto “never forget,” but the sad truth is that many of us believe we have been forgotten.
The RICH Act, upon request, could be a lifeline for those who are now seriously ill and those who may become ill and die as a result of their exposure to toxic materials on 9/11. Our families deserve better.
“The bill would fill a gap in insurance by providing additional benefits to a limited number of 9/11 heroes and their families. The harsh reality is that more people have died from 9/11 illnesses than died on that fateful day. This new study on how dementia can take a devastating toll on emergency workers adds even more urgency.”
Extending New Jersey’s RICH Law does more than just provide benefits. It recognizes the sacrifices made by first responders and ensures they get the help they need. New Jersey must not abandon our forgotten 9/11 heroes.
Val Velazquez Stets is a former Jersey City, New Jersey police officer and now New Jersey Director of 9/11 Community Affairs for the 9/11 legal assistance firm Barash McGarry.